First came a Levar Seals steal and three-point shot. Then there was a Rebert Harris three-point play. Next, a Harris steal that turned into a Curtis Blair basket. Finally, Harris dished off to 6-foot-7-inch freshman Stanley Gaines Jr. for an easy score.

"They were getting kind of close to us, so we had to step up the pressure," Seals said about the outburst that provided a 56-38 lead after three quarters. "After we forced a couple of turnovers, we knew we had to keep the pressure on them."

St. Francis (23-5) was staggered on the first play when Seals snuck behind the Spartans' defense for a lob dunk off a Harris feed.

"No, we weren't trying to send them a message," said Seals, who led St. Mel with 20 points. "That's a play we like to run every game. It's something that we hope will get us psyched up."

The Knights opened the game with a 15-3 run, eventually pulling out to a 37-21 lead late in the second quarter.

Ryan Hogan (23 points, five three-pointers) and Neal Shaughnessy (16 points, eight assists) sparked a St. Francis revival in the third quarter that brought cut the Spartans' gap to 45-38.

St. Mel responded with that 22-2 dominance.

Harris took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 18 points. He also finished with 10 assists and three steals.

"I was supposed to step up and be a leader last year," Harris said. "I remember feeling real bad when we lost to St. Francis de Sales right here in last year's sectional final. I wasn't going to let it slip away this time."

St. Mel led 67-40 when Hogan connected on four consecutive three-pointers.

"That's the best team we've played all year," Hogan said. "We played East Aurora and lost by three, but this team is even better.

"I've never been dunked on so many times in my life. We tried to box them out underneath, and then that No. 24 (Owens Shelby) hits back-to-back threes. We didn't realize they have an outside game too."